Research Cycle When and How Information Gets Published

Research Cycle: Scientific Information Research & Development Initial Reporting of Results Author’s Finished Report Peer-Reviewed Publication of Research Article Compilations of Previous Work News Reports

Research & Development Academia Industry Government Informal Communications:   Instant Messaging  Discussion Lists  Blogs  Social Networking  Conversations

Initial Reporting of Results Patents (or patent applications) Conference Papers/Presentations  If funding runs out or the work appears to be a “dead end,” this may be the only report ever generated.

Author’s Finished Report Preprints  Often posted to a preprint server; author establishes priority and solicits comment prior to formal review Technical Reports  Reports of research performed by gov’t agencies, private industry, or academic departments Dissertations/Theses  A student’s final report of research performed for a graduate degree

Peer-Reviewed Publication of Research Article Completed paper is submitted to a journal; the editor(s) send the paper to another researcher in the same field of work for comment and verification of the quality of work; the paper may be returned to the author for corrections, elaboration, etc. before final acceptance. Letters Journals  Also known as “rapid communications” journals, publish shorter articles and offer authors faster publication than other research journals

Compilations of Previous Work Review Articles  An expert in a field reports on the “state of the art” of the area of research. May appear in a Review Journal (“Annual Reviews in…; Reviews of…”) or in a research journal. Monographs (books)  Encyclopedias  Handbooks  Textbooks

News Reports May occur at any point in the research process Newspapers Magazines  News and features, usually for a general or interested-amateur audience Trade Journals  News and features for professionals in a particular field

Part 1 Identifying Differences Between Informational Sources

Primary vs. Secondary Conference Papers Peer-Reviewed Articles  Information is directly from the researcher “original content” Review Articles  Information summarized by someone other than the researcher Handbooks, Encyclopedias, etc. “study of the original”

Periodicals MAGAZINES  Popular Info  Audience: General Public Amateur Interest  Purpose: Hobby Pleasure Curiosity JOURNALS  Scholarly Info  Audience: Researcher Professional Who Needs to Stay Up-to- Date  Purpose: Goal-Driven  Research Paper  Certification, Tenure  Job Requirement

Difference Between Scholarly and Popular Periodicals POPULAR MAGAZINES USUALLY SOMEWHAT SLICK AND ATTRACTIVE IN APPEARANCE RARELY CITE SOURCES. INFO. IS USUALLY SECONDARY, REPORTED FROM SOURCE ARTICLES SHORT, WRITTEN IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE AND FOR A MINIMAL EDUCATION LEVEL USUALLY LOT OF ADVERTISING AND PICTURES PAGINATION RESTARTS IN EVERY ISSUE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS HAVE A SOBER, SERIOUS LOOK ALWAYS CITE THEIR SOURCES IN FOOTNOTES/BIBLIOGRAPHIES ARTICLES WRITTEN BY A SCHOLAR OR RESEARCHER “HORSE’S MOUTH” PEER-REVIEWED BY SCHOLARS LANGUAGE OF JOURNAL ASSUMES SOME SCHOLARLY BACKGROUND ON THE PART OF READER ADVERTISING IS SPECIALIZED TO THAT DISCIPLINE PAGINATION IS CUMULATIVE

Moving Towards Evaluation Scholarly sources are concerned with academic study, especially research for individuals such as, students, teachers, professors, or any other professional who need current information to stay informed of changes to their profession or area of expertise. Many scholarly journals are peer reviewed or refereed, that is, these articles have been subjected to a rigorous approval and editing process by other scholars in that discipline. This process doesn’t apply to popular magazines. Science Peer Review in a Nut Shell

End of Session Created by: Jason Dupree Southwestern Oklahoma State University